Six weeks and still not right

It's been six weeks since my PM implant and I am still not feeling right.

They said everything looked good, better than good in fact but I still don't feel right.

My heart still feels like it is racing but when I check my pulse it isn't high. I have been getting leg cramps in my right calf a lot lately but I also noticed I've been tightening my leg while it would be relaxed so that pretty much explains that.

Part of me thinks that what I am experiencing is all in my head and caused by stress but I am so scared.

I just don't feel right. I can't even explain it. I just feel off.

I got an at home monitor to set up but I can't do it until tomorrow.

Days like today I hate having had this surgery. I would much rather be on medication for my PSVT than this.

Kirs

8 Comments

Feels like a losing battle

by KIRWEN1004 - 2011-04-08 11:04:40

Patch - I saw a therapist for the first time last week, going again Wednesday.

I've seen two different sets of doctors (one EKG and general check up by my local EP) and my main EP for the interagation and first full check up. At both times my heart felt fast to me. Both times they said it was nothing to be worried about.

My EP addressed my being hyper-aware of everything I feel and said it is something I will deal with for a while. That it is normal to be so aware of everything.

The only medication I am on is Xanax which I take as needed, usually once a day at bedtime.

Feel like I've taken a step back and things are worse than they were on Monday.

Sigh.

Kirs

6 weeks

by 39anddisabled - 2011-04-08 11:04:43

only you know how you feel i told my cardioligist my blood pessure was bottoming out he didnt listen i got a second opinion my doctor wanted me to double my meds in which was a wrong move the other doctor said my meds where right actally lowered the dosage on heart med it was affecting my kidneys needless to say im doing better if you dont feel like your heart doctor is listening seek other advice if your heart is racing thats not supposed to happen get another opinion only you know how you feel thats my advice to you

PSVT

by ElectricFrank - 2011-04-09 02:04:29

A couple of thoughts:

Did they do an ablation as well as an implant? From my reading they use either meds or ablation to treat the bursts of rapid HR and then the pacemaker restores normal rhythm. If so keep in mind that an ablation is actually catheter surgery that destroys heart tissue, and can take a while to heal and stabilize.

Both the ablation and/or just being paced can give you unfamiliar sensations in your heart that are perfectly normal. The docs look at your pacemaker data and conclude that all is going very well, but they don't have to live with the strange feelings.

My suggestion is to get active physically, if you aren't already. Push yourself up to a HR in the 90-100 range and see how you feel. If you don't get light headed or have unusual shortness of breath its a pretty good indication that all is OK.

By the way, and this is just my bias, you are nowhere near needing to be taking Xanax. Throwing pills at mild anxiety is a good way to develop a lifestyle of avoiding dealing with things like this, and only muddies the water.

It took me a good deal of my 80 yrs to discover that fear is my friend. It heightens my senses, adds clarity to life, and and makes me feel alive.

I'm puzzled by a friend who sky dives, bungee jumps, etc. for the thrill of it. But if his heart skips a beat he is terrified.
Ah, well,

frank

Get the cat

by jlo - 2011-04-09 03:04:01

of course you have room, it's a cat, they dont need much, just love food and a litter tray,but at the same time they give so much back. If you get a kitten, it will entertain you, and an older cat will soothe you. Either one will be better than any medication. Go for it.

Oh Frank....

by KIRWEN1004 - 2011-04-09 10:04:53

You seem to always say exactly what I need to hear.

I had the ablation to fix the PSVT and it led to a pacemaker the next day. No one discussed with me the healing and stabilzing of the heart due to ablation. Even when that was my original procedure.

I still felt yucky this morning when I woke up and very achy. I skipped the Xanax but did take a Tylenol to ease the aches and pains and jumped into cleaning the house. I noticed that while I was cleaning aside from being cautious of raising my arm (which I don't have to do anymore per the doctor but still find myself doing time to time) I felt fine and didn't notice anything. But once I stopped I started feeling odd again.

I guess my body has some adjusting to do and my brain needs to accept that. A tough concept for a worrier who has lost all faith in her body since the surgery.

Some days I do so well and others it just feels like the world is crashing in on me.

Off to do some more cleaning and try to get my mind off of this.

Hubby just gave me the go ahead that we can rescue a cat from a shelter if I still want to (after years of wanting a kitty). I gotta decide if we have the space and if it is the right thing for our family now.

Hopefully those things will focus my energy towards something other than worrying if my heart is working right.

Thanks to both Frank and Patch.

Kirs

Kirs

by ElectricFrank - 2011-04-09 11:04:34

Thanks for the feedback. I realize that sometimes I'm a bit way out, but it is me. It's good to know that my thoughts can be helpful.

Enjoy the cat.

frank

loose faith in my body

by sixpac - 2011-04-11 11:04:56

Reading here that my body is not perfect and I am now the guy that has a problem. My body has been awesome for me all my life. Now I have to rebuild my faith in my body. Thanks for the insights 2 weeks since my PM installed. Depression and anxiety comes and goes.

Sixpac

by drashmore - 2011-04-12 11:04:59

I think you hit the nail on the head. It is an issue of loosing faith in your body. My body has always told me exactly what was going on. Then one day you're admitted to the hospital and told your HR is down in the thirties. Next thing you know you have a PM and told "you'll feel 100% better." But that's not the case. There's a whole lot more to it. It takes time. Now you start second guess everything. You have to rebuild that faith in your body.

I've had mine for 4 months and am still working through the anxiety and the PVC's, but I'm getting there, one step at a time.

You know you're wired when...

Like the Energizer Bunny, you keep going.

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My pacemaker is intact and working great.